The Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF) is an actual organization that “uses music, chess and martial arts to promote unity, strategy and non-violence”. It also promotes videogames, it seems, as Ubisoft annouces the First Annual Chess Kings Invitational to take place at the San Francisco Design Center in October.

”The 1st Annual Chess Kings Invitational will kick off with HHCF's Life Strategies All-Star Panel. The Life Strategies panel will feature multi-platinum rappers RZA and GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan (pictured here), chess icon Josh Waitzkin, turntable wizards DJ QBert and DJ Disk and other surprise guests in a discussion about how music, chess and martial arts have guided them in their paths to success.”

Apparently the HHCF has used the connection between hip-hop and chess to make chess cool and introduce it to a new whole audience, with some Ubisoft rep unsurprisingly leaping on this to also claim that “The Chessmaster series of video games does the same thing; inviting people of all ages and skill levels to engage in the timeless art of chess. It was a natural connection for us to become partners in bringing this great event to the community."

"We are amazed by how well we have been received since our first event earlier this year," says HHCF co-founder Adisa Banjoko. "By celebrities donating their time, it really sends a message that they care about the state of our communities. Their presence will greatly assist us in raising money to provide scholarships to local schools."

HHFC co-founder Leo Libiran adds that "Hip-Hop has always been about more than bullets and bling and the fact that so many fantastic rappers, chessmasters, martial artists and graf writers have donated their time to the children is proof of this in itself."

Chessmaster: The Art of Learning on DS and Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition on PC will be released sometime around October and November this year.

For more on the Hip Hop Chess Federation check out www.hiphopchessfederation.com.